WHITBY -- The Brantford Blast are good, there's no question, but they're not unbeatable, even if they have been just that so far in the Allan Cup Hockey loop.

In fact, the string of success the Blast are enjoying is eerily reminiscent to one the Whitby Dunlops enjoyed a year ago, when they reeled off 14 straight wins to start a season that ultimately ended in a seven-game playoff defeat to the Dundas Real McCoys.

So, even after the Blast beat the Dunlops for the third time Saturday, a 5-4 shootout verdict that improved Brantford's record to 11-0-0-0, Dunlops coach John Winder wasn't prepared to hand them the championship just yet.

"We're definitely as good as them. I'm not saying they're more talented than us, or better than us. We're as good as them, if not better and I think down the road we should win a couple against them," Winder said. "Sooner or later, if we keep working like we worked on Saturday, good things are going to happen.

"When you're on that kind of a swing, you're kind of getting breaks and taking chances you wouldn't normally take, and getting away with it," continued Winder, comparing the Blast's streak to the Dunlops' of a year ago. "You're just playing that carefree hockey."

Playing in front of a crowd of about 350 at the Iroquois Park Sports Centre, the Dunlops jumped on the Blast early, out-shooting them 20-9 in the first period according to pointstreak.com, but left the frame tied 1-1 thanks to strong play from Blast goalie Brett Leggat.

The rest of the game was tight and exciting, tied 2-2 through two and 3-3 early in the third before a bullet shot from Peter MacKellar gave the Dunlops a 4-3 lead with 12:39 remaining, his second goal of the game.

With Leggat out for an extra attacker, however, a wide-open Jamie Williams beat Whitby goalie Dayne Davis for the equalizer with 1:08 left in regulation.

After a scoreless overtime, only the Blast's Chris Rebernik was able to score in the shootout, although Justin Cardwell rang one off the post on the Dunlops' second attempt.

"I thought the first period was the period we should have probably put them away, but we couldn't do it," said Winder. "I said to the guys after that I had no complaints with that game. It's as good a game as we've played. If we keep that up, we'll be alright down the road."

The Dunlops remain in second place at 6-2-1-1, eight points back of the Blast and two up on the Real McCoys (6-5-0-0). The Orillia Tundras (2-9-0-0) are in Whitby for a 6:30 p.m. start this Saturday.